Health and happiness: What's the connection?

Mar. 27, 2014

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Written by

Anita Miles

Curpier

WANT TO VOLUNTEER?

• Look around for something that interests you and can do some good for others. • Check out the Corporation for National and Community Service at www.nationalservice.gov. • Build volunteering into your schedule. Make it a priority and stick with it. • Do the buddy plan and get a friend involved with you.

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When I talk to boomers my age and older, it’s clear there are two major issues always in mind. One is health status, and the other is longevity. We all want to be healthy, especially if we have experienced periods in which we’ve lost our health for a while due to illness or injury. And the number of years we have left is an important number as we close in on what statistics tell us we can expect.

Lifestyle choices can influence these concerns. Topping the list, of course, is following a healthy low-fat, low-sugar and low-salt diet, and getting plenty of daily exercise. But medical science tells us there is more to the story than just broccoli and brisk walks.

Another factor that is gaining more attention among boomers is being happy. Recent research has shown when you are happy, you are healthier and live longer. This may be due to the effect happiness has on your genes, and specifically the genes that govern your immune system. But there is a catch. It seems that what makes you happy is the key.

Selfless or selfish

Obviously, there are lots of things that can make you happy, but scientists who study this have created two broad categories of happiness. One is good for you, the other is not. The type that is good for you arises from a sense of well-being, having a meaningful purpose in life and giving selflessly. On the high end, think Albert Schweitzer and Mother Teresa. The other category, the type of happiness that can be harmful, is derived from the relentless pursuit of self-gratification. Think Gordon Gekko from the movie “Wall Street.”

Happiness based on well-being has a positive influence on your genes and how they express themselves. A major expression is an anti-inflammatory response. This is important as we are now aware that many debilitating and potentially lethal illnesses thrive when inflammation is present. This type of happiness also combats depression, relaxes the body and improves conditions within the blood vessels, helping to reduce blood pressure and protect the heart. All good things that help you live longer.

In contrast, greed-based happiness produces the opposite effects, with increased inflammation linked to the development of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Now, here’s the irony. Regardless of the way you derive your happiness, you may “feel” the same. However, says Steven W. Cole, a medical researcher from UCLA, “Our genes can tell the difference.” Your genes know if your happiness comes from selfless behavior, and if so, you are rewarded. If, on the other hand, your happiness is shallow and selfish, you are penalized.

Volunteerism

So, what’s a fail-safe approach to happiness that will bring about a sense of well-being that will bolster your health and help you live longer? The answer is giving of yourself by volunteering. OK, sounds good, but how much volunteering do you need to reap healthful benefits? Research suggests that you have to be serious about it. Committed and involved, in other words, and it’s more than just serving Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army once a year. Researchers suggest volunteering 100 hours per year, or about two hours per week, on average, to meet what they are calling the “volunteering threshold.”

It’s promising that we boomers seem to have gotten the message and are doing more volunteer work than previous generations did at the same age. It’s a win-win situation for all. Boomer volunteers are happier and healthier because of their efforts, and much good is being done for others and the community at large.

Anita Miles Curpier is a health promotion consultant. She’s also a registered dietitian and has considerable experience in hospital and clinically based nutrition therapy. To contact her, email boomingcj@gmail.com.